Trine 2: The Complete Story PlayStation 4 Review

Trine 2: The Complete Story Offers the very best 3D gaming on the PS4

Having played Frozenbyte‘s visually masterful Trine 2 on the PlayStation 3, I knew exactly what to expect out of the PlayStation 4 remaster. However, I never had the chance to play the Goblin Menace add-on. Trine 2: The Complete Story offers the fully overhauled main story as well as the Goblin Menace DLC all in one package.

Frozenbyte resolved to create a challenging puzzle platformer with a strong emphasis on class-based action gameplay. The experience is equal parts stunning visuals, fluid combat, and enjoyable puzzle platforming. Intuitive puzzle design is married with rather exciting battles. Trine 2: The Complete Story supports up to three player Co-Op so you can even grab some friends and save the kingdom in tandem.

Each player takes control of a different player with a very specific skill set. Pontius is a plate-armor clad wrecking ball with the ability to demolish large groups of enemies. Using either sword and shield, or his powerful hammer, Pontius not only dispatches foes, he also shatters obstacles. Powerful yet cautious wizard Amadeus is responsible for conjuring boxes and planks used to solve puzzles. Amadeus can also levitate large objects to clear the way for progress, or squash enemies into the ground. Seasoned thief Zoya is best used for stealth and ranged combat via her bow and arrow. She’s also the hero that’s able to cover the most ground thanks to her handy grappling hook. Each puzzle typically demands use of at least two characters to overcome. In general the brainteaser’s are standard fare. Most of which are solved within moments, but some require you to get pretty inventive to accomplish. The same can be said about combat. Most sequences are championed by Pontius alone. On occasion Zoya is used to pick off enemies, and Amadeus can also trap enemies inside a conjured item or even telekinetically move enemies on spikes or off of ledges. Boss battles are few and far between, but mini-bosses are used to create a bit of a challenge every now and then.

The obvious standout of Trine 2: The Complete Story are its imaginative and gorgeous visuals. Traveling through Trine 2’s fantastical environments is like reaching into an expertly crafted diorama and taking full control of its inhabitants. The lush, vibrant forests are juxtaposed by frozen caverns, masterfully crafted chateaus, sun-soaked deserts and blazing cauldrons. Skillfully designed character models react well to combat and platforming situations. The precisely calculated physics of Trine 2 are second to none. They add a strong sense of reality into the dazzling fantasy world. The streams and cave pools are absolutely breathtaking. It’s as if there’s literally liquid waiting to spill out of your television set. Trine 2 is easily one of the best looking games on the PS4, running at a consistent 60fps at 1080p, there’s nothing more you can ask for on console.

An enchanting musical score helps introduce you into and then sink you further down the rabbit hole. A talented voice acting cast helps convey the Medieval setting, and thoughtfully selected sound FX combine to create an impressive level of immersion.

The dual plots of Trine 2: The Complete Story consist of an age-old feud between powerful sisters and the quest to rescue Amadeus’ wife Margaret. In both cases the heroes are bound to an ancient artifact called the Trine. The relic acts as a navigator and ward in the main plot, but is mysteriously absent during most of the Goblin Menace expansion. In both cases the story is minimal yet charming, but it’s not a sweeping narrative by any means.

I wanted to experience all that the title had to offer, meaning over 50% of the time I spent with Trine 2 was in 3-D. I have to say that Frozenbyte’s cinematic visuals come to life in a whole new fashion when viewed in 3-D. Out of all the title’s I’ve pulled out the glasses for, Trine 2 was the definitive 3-D gaming experience. 3-D has yet to be patched into the PS4 OS, but if you have a 3-D capable television, you’ll be prompted to activate it when you begin a new session. I also wanted to test the remote play capabilities of the game. Everything ran smooth as butter, I didn’t experience any lag or artifacting whatsoever. The control scheme is somewhat limited on the Vita, as is to be expected. The only character I had continued issues with was Amadeus. This came in the form of the rear trackpad failing to accurately recognize my commands. Other than that, the game looked nearly as spectacular on the small screen, and performed just as well.

Considering the fact that Frozenbyte is a studio consisting of less than twenty employees, the technical prowess of the title is absolutely baffling. Mind-blowing visuals, fun puzzle-platforming, distinct musical score, and entertaining combat make Trine 2: The Complete story a must buy for PlayStation 4 owners.

Dylan splits time between games journalism, designing video games, and playing them. Outside of his deep involvement in the games industry, he enjoys It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Shameless, A Song of Ice and Fire, fitness, and family.